Tim Lahey didn't have the finest season in 2008, posting a 5.43 ERA in 48 games for Triple-A Rochester, but the Twins are optimistic that the big, strong righthanded reliever is headed in the right direction.

Righthander Rob Delaney has been a pleasant surprise as a nondrafted free agent made good. The reliever from St. John's has jumped from low Class A to Double-A since the beginning of the 2007 campaign, and to top it off he earned a spot in this year's Arizona Fall League.

When the Twins took Aaron Hicks with the 14th overall pick in June, they knew the 18-year-old had potential at two positions: outfield and righthanded pitcher. Hicks' professional career is off to a great start, and the mound is not part of the early success.

Righthander Philip Humber began the season in the rotation at Triple-A Rochester but was demoted to the bullpen after early struggles. He turned his season around, though, once he reclaimed his rotation spot at the end of July.

Any lingering doubts about outfielder Denard Span have evaporated this season, as he's done everything except secure a permanent spot in the major leagues—but after his recall in late June, that might no longer be the case.

Twins outfielder Ben Revere has faced doubters since being drafted 28th overall, mostly because of his size. By batting .413/.463/.565 for low Class A Beloit through 44 games, he was starting to silence his critics.

It's no surprise that Tyler Robertson has a high baseball IQ. The lefthander is the son of longtime scout Jay Robertson, who formerly worked for the Twins and is currently a special assistant to Rangers general manager Jon Daniels.<br/>

Numbers don't lie, and neither does performance. Shortstop Chris Cates hopes his numbers will prove he belongs in professional baseball, but not the number that represents his height. Cates stands 5-foot-3, which makes the former Louisville player the smallest player in the pro ranks. But he knows that how he performs—not his size—will be the most important factor in his career.

The Twins were adamant about one thing: righthander Deolis Guerra had to be part of any deal with the Mets for Johan Santana. It's easy to see why. New York's erstwhile top pitching prospect stands 6-foot-5, weighs 200 pounds and already has two years of pro experience even though he won't be 19 until the season's second week.